North Aurora mayor quits

successor named

December 15, 2004|By Amy Fischer Roth, Special to the Tribune.

North Aurora will have a new village president as of Monday, and then it will be up to voters to seat a new mayor in April.

Mark Ruby announced at a Village Board meeting Monday that he and his wife will be moving into a newly built home in unincorporated Kane County. The home, which has a Geneva address, is close to his son's home.

It was up to Village Board members to appoint an interim village president, and after a few moments of discussion, they unanimously approved the appointment of Max Herwig, a trustee for the last 10 years.

Trustee Dale Berman said he believed Trustee Paul Shoemaker should be appointed, because he is the only board member not running for re-election.

"I see the logic," Shoemaker said. "But I have no desire to be mayor; not even for three months. I think Max would do a great job."

Herwig is running for re-election to his seat.

Dale Berman, John Hansen and Mark Guethle are mayoral candidates.

Ruby said Tuesday that he is endorsing Hansen as the next village president.

"John has worked quietly to bring economic growth to the village and to ensure financial stability," he said. "I appointed John and (Trustee) Mike Herlihy to conduct the successful negotiations that brought the new Woodman's store to town." Ruby also likes the fact that Hansen has "never been obligated to any political party."

Hansen, 50, is a pharmacist by profession who manages 21 pharmacies in nine states. He has lived in the village since 1978 and has spent more than 17 non-consecutive years in office.

Guethle, 45, works for the International Union of Painters. He has lived in the village for five years and was elected to the board in 2003. He is chairman of the Kane County Democratic Association.

Berman, 70, who served as village president from 1985 to 1989 and as a trustee from 1977 to 1985, was again elected as a trustee in 2003. He has been retired since 1996 from First Alert. He was the chairman of the Planning Commission, was on the Zoning Board of Appeals and was chairman of the Police Commission. He has been on the Fox Valley Park District Board for 11 years, serving as president for the last two years.

Five candidates will compete for three seats on the Village Board: incumbents Herwig and Herlihy and challengers Mark Gaffino, Linda Mitchell and Michael Savini. Shoemaker's seat is not up for re-election.

Gaffino, 44, who is chairman of the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners, served four years on the village's Plan Commission. He has lived in North Aurora for 43 years and owns a landscaping business. This is his first race for public office.

Mitchell, 59, was elected as village clerk for three terms and served from 1985 to 1997. She was executive secretary to the village's first administrative assistant until 2000, when she was employed with the West Aurora School District 129 until her retirement in July. Her last position was construction finance manager.

Joseph Lowery is running unopposed for village clerk to succeed Lori Murray, who is not seeking re-election.